For all the newbies and non-Rv’ers, this is all code for “lets get together and drink”!While we are there drinking we will do some scientific tests to justify the meeting. We will discuss the test requirements and drink, we will then discuss the entries and drink, then we will discuss the time limits and drink. When finished we will analyze the results and drink, then we will post the results and drink. Somewhere in all this we will eat and drink also. My holding tank is a 40 gallon bucket, using plenty of water I can dump just about anything as long as I have beer. Life is too short for single ply, there must be a mistake with the test, lets do it again. One day I hope to attend the Q rally and practice my drinking, I mean testing. Sounds like everyone had fun!

The reason disintegration is important is that pieces of paper can hang up on tank sensors (if you have the in-tank type as most still do) and the valves. Larger pieces can also catch at the floor flange, a bend in the pipe, or other places where there may be rough spots or constrictions. TP that dissolves well & quickly lowers the risk of these sorts of things.

Paper also contributes mightily to the "poop pyramid" problem, but you should never have that issue if you flush enough water and don't dump until the tank is at least half full.

Would love you to sample it!Speaking of which, tonight is sample night to see how my batches are aging.I give away far more than I drink. I'm old, so two beers puts me over the top, three puts me to sleep.Since I've had two, I must say your depth of anything RV is astounding. You've bailed me out of more than one dilemma.Hope you don't mind my tag line. When I read that it put me on the floor laughing..

i have a serious question we are not full time, take many short trips, and a tleast one long on a year, i dump at every campsite, and when i get home. so the question is, does it really mater the type of paper i use, since it doesn't stay in the tank to de-compose?

Yes, it really matters or we wouldn't have done the test! You, my friend, are one of the ones who will be complaining about odor and the poop pyramid and the sensor not working. You should not be dumping at every campsite. The black tank should be at minimum one-half full and it's better at two-thirds or three-quarters so the liquid has a chance to break down the solids, whether waste or tissue. When you dump too often the solids stay on the bottom of the tank, especially if they don't have enough water to break it all up. It's okay to dump when you get home and the toilet is not going to be used for a while, but do make sure there's some water in it so the "stuff" that might be left on the bottom of the tank doesn't solidify. Another cause of the infamous poop pyramid is when people get to a site and open their black tank and leave it open. The water that's flushed isn't adequate to push the solids out of the tank. If you get to a site and need to dump because the tank is full, go ahead and dump but then close the valve so water has a chance to help the bacteria break down and dissolve the stuff in the tank.

By the way, this test clearly and without any doubt whatsoever proved that Kleenex tissues and feminine products should NEVER EVER be put down an RV toilet where they will remain undissolved in the RV black tank. Make sure everyone who travels with you knows this!

i use more than average water when flushing, and i flush out the tank when dumping, if figured that would help slosh the rest out, never had a problem with a poop pile, just wondering i guess. thanks for the info.

After a full 48 hours after our test we fished contents from cup and then dumped the results around the inside perimeter of the fire ring. I have a photo of results of Quilted Northern. Clearly not so broken down.

I must admit to a running joke between Catblaster and myself. Every time we get together one of us remarks that today would be a good day to go buy some toilet paper and do some dissolving tests. Well, it is funny to us.

A friend of mine gave me some really good advice on upkeep of the black tank. He said that right before I take off to put some toilet treatment down my commode followed by a 10 lb bag of ice. This sloshing around will help to loosen up any particles at the bottom of the black tank. He was right, it helped a lot. I also put a little bleach down toilet about 10 hours before I flush tanks (just a little though). I don't empty the black tank until it is about 3/4 full because the vacuum will help to draw out all loose matter in your tank. I only use 1 ply RV toilet paper that I buy at Wal-Mart. Keep an old broom handle nearby to help with any toilet paper clogs. Not as bad as it sounds.

i have a serious question we are not full time, take many short trips, and atleast one long on a year, i dump at every campsite, and when i get home. so the question is, does it really mater the type of paper i use, since it doesn't stay in the tank to de-compose?

For your situation I think that having a good way to flush the holding tank with a lot of water is more important than what kind of TP you use.

OK, so we are a full month after Quartzsite testing of toilet paper. It was time to make my purchase based on the scientific results. We are Sam's Club Members and trotted off to local Sam's club for the purchase of the Members Mark brand. Alas they only come packaged in rolls of 45. That's a lot of rolls and it will set you back $16 or so. So I did not buy any.

Now I am home and it's two days later. I still need toilet paper. Looks like I will return to Sam's and make the purchase. I will have stored rolls for quite some time! Let this message serve as a warning that if you are going with our Quartzsite results, you may want to carpool with an RVForum friend when making your purchase at Sam's. On my was to Sam's now................

By the way, this test clearly and without any doubt whatsoever proved that Kleenex tissues and feminine products should NEVER EVER be put down an RV toilet where they will remain undissolved in the RV black tank. Make sure everyone who travels with you knows this!

ArdraF

One other thing to never, ever put down an RV toilet are the "flushable" moist wipes or baby wipes. The packaging says they are septic system safe, but I've read they don't dissolve well if at all and people are being advised to not flush them down their home toilets either.